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The Tragedy of Benjamin Netanyahu

In presenting no new information about Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program, the Israeli prime minister is actually undermining his own country’s security, argues Trita Parsi.

By Trita Parsi

There is something tragic about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The harder he tries, the more he fails. That has been the case with many of his attempts to sabotage diplomacy with Iran and push the US to take military action against the country. And that was certainly the case with his underwhelming powerpoint presentation Monday. What was supposed to be a smoking gun to once and for all nix the Iran nuclear deal, inadvertently made a powerful case as to why the the deal must remain in place.

The Israeli government had promised “significant new revelations” about the nuclear program. Yet Netanyahu offered nothing new. The bulk of his presentation focused on what the world already knew: That between 1999 and 2003, Iran had engaged in activities with possible military dimensions.

As I describe in Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy, these past Iranian activities constituted a tricky dilemma during the nuclear talks. If it was revealed that the Iranians had indeed engaged in illegal military research, that could jeopardize the entire agreement, as voices would be raised to have it punished for its past violations. Completely disregarding it without allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to complete its investigation—which the Iranians had not been cooperating with—was also not an option. What it came down to was a choice between punishment for Iran’s past violations and guarantees that those violations would never be repeated in the future.

Obama’s Choice

The obvious choice for Obama was the latter: punishing Iran for its past

Netanyahu: Nothing new.

errors was of little value if punishment came at the expense of a deal that would prevent Iran from building a bomb. Politically, however, this choice was feasible only if the IAEA could complete its investigation—with the cooperation of the Iranians—to make a final judgment on the issue and close the file. The P5+1 needed neither an admission of guilt nor a guilty verdict; they just needed Iran’s cooperation to complete the investigation.

The Iranians feared that giving the IAEA more access would only lead to more demands and investigations. To Iran, it was critical that any investigation would be time-limited, so it couldn’t drag on indefinitely, and delinked from the sanctions relief process, so that the decision to lift sanctions couldn’t be held hostage to the Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) investigation.

Eventually, a compromise was reached in which the Iranians would make their documents accessible and their scientists available for interviews for the purposes of producing a time-limited report that would contain both the IAEA’s assessments and Iran’s responses and contributions. The report would essentially include two narratives, which meant that there wouldn’t be an authoritative judgment. More importantly, the sanctions relief process would be linked to the completion of the IAEA investigation and not its conclusion. That is, the IAEA would have to report only that Iran had cooperated with the investigation and that the IAEA’s questions were answered in order for the green light for sanctions reform to be lit.

In July 2015, the head of the IAEA flew to Tehran and concluded a final agreement that established a timeline for resolving the question of Iran’s past activities whereby Iran would turn over all information requested by the IAEA, and the IAEA would provide its final assessment by December 15 of that year.

The IAEA issued its report on December 2, 2015 concluding that Iran had pursued a nuclear weapons program prior to 2003, but that this organized program ended that year and that there was no evidence that any undeclared activities had taken place since 2009.

Case Closed

Following the report, the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors voted unanimously to conclude the investigation into Iran’s past weaponization work. The case was officially closed.

Now, without presenting any new information – and without even attempting to claim that Iran’s undeclared activities had continued beyond 2009 or 2015 – Bibi wants to convince the world that he has discovered something new.

He hasn’t.

As one former IAEA official publicly commented: “I just saw a lot of pictures I had seen before.”

Iran’s past military activities are precisely why the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is needed: The deal significantly limited Iran’s program and closed off all of Tehran’s pathways to a bomb. And thanks to the inspections regime, Iran cannot engage in any such clandestine activities without getting caught.

All of these restrictions, limitations and inspections will be lost if Donald Trump follows Netanyahu’s advice and kills the deal on May 12.

And therein lies the tragedy of Netanyahu.

By helping to kill the Iran deal, Netanyahu may advance his own political interest, but only by undermining that of Israel’s. Bibi may consider himself the biggest political winner of the Iran deal’s collapse. Yet, Israel will count among some of the biggest losers of this diplomatic travesty.

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38 comments for “The Tragedy of Benjamin Netanyahu”

Robert

May 4, 2018 at 3:13 pm

Israeli IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot supports the Iran nuclear deal because it is working, no violations of the agreement “can be seen at present” and it keeps Iran from getting nukes for another 10-15 years. Israel’s No. 1 mission for both IDF and intelligence agencies is keeping watch on developments in Iran. If Iran’s intentions change, “we will know”.https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-military-chief-despite-its-faults-iran-nuclear-deal-works-1.5962099
Eisendot would be apprised of any intelligence on Iranian violation of the nuclear deal, and he maintains that Israel sees no violations of the agreement.

Delia Ruhe

May 3, 2018 at 8:27 pm

I wonder which of those fancy new teaching aids Bibi will treat the UNGA to in September? The blueprints of Auschwitz a couple years back and the sketch of the cartoon bomb more recently were big hits.

Implicitly or explicitly, the holocaust always seems to find its way into the punchline of all his speeches, and sooner or later anyone who thwarts his wishes gets labeled antisemitic. I’ve long since quit taking him seriously on that score, mainly because of the way he tolerates antisemitism in people who make it public that they support Israel’s right to Greater Israel. I’m assuming he’s said zip about the rise of Nazism within the present government of Ukraine because he’s found a soulmate in Trump, who also finds it necessary to overlook it.

Brady

May 3, 2018 at 12:04 pm

Please note that if Israel admits to possessing nuclear weapons and is not signatory to the NPT it is disqualified from receiving any military aid from the USA. Currently it is a nuclear rogue state which should eliminate the billions the US taxpayer is required to fund via the insurmountable iron grip the zionist project holds on Washington and at least 9 state governments that are past the point of no return. Never acknowledging or verifying possession of nukes means the free flow of weapons and money – borrowed at interest and put into an interest bearing account for Israel to use and profit from.

Robert Emmett

May 3, 2018 at 11:05 am

Oh, yeah, tragedy? C’mon headline writer look up some definitions. Gnat ‘n yahoo brings no noble qualities, no moral wrestling, brings no greatness to the vast issues he mouths, as a fool. And he certainly hasn’t been brought to his downfall (yet) by overweening pride or any other tragic flaw, the way he parades around the corporate media’s stage, those who let him and endorse him. Talk about tragedy? Talk about how the 4th estate has fallen (willingly) time after time for the lies of war mongers and power brokers. The comedy is why anyone would take Bibi or anything he says seriously, as he flies around threatening while tethered tightly under the bristling wings of U. S. military might. Every once in a while they let him off leash to run his hide-the-blini schtick for the rubes, usually when Israeli military is killing civilians in cold blood and/or upping the proxy ante in a hot zone. Hey, double bonus this time! And who falls for it every time? The “real” Americans; they’d be pathetic if they weren’t so dumb and lethal. Netanyahu? WTF gives a shit about him??

Clint Moose post on top shows why i don’t like CN’s new arrangement of comments. I had to go below Clint’s to read Joe’s response. Joe answered him beautifully, that we all know Bibi is a con man (and perhaps worse) but the serious problem is the Israel lobby and other groups in America supporting them having an incredible stranglehold on American politics, and Bibi is their front man. Joe said it very well.

Clint Moose

May 3, 2018 at 8:48 am

Very disappointing. You people need a lesson about Netanyahu. I find it amazing that after all this time in power, many don’t understand the real story of what is going on here. In 2018, a journalist covering Israeli foreign relations and strategy can not be taken serious anymore if they do not take these factors into account.

1 – Netanyahu is not a true political leader in any way. He has only these skills
– maximizing election potential and remaining in power by
a) selling fear to Likud supporters
b) creating semi-stable coalitions that usually last at least 2 years
c) selling public assets to the highest oligarch bidder and appeasing the extreme right
d) making the ignorant masses despise the media

That’s it, and nothing else.

He has no management or organization capabilities and his record in executing what he promises to the public – in any area – not only foreign issues, is exactly zero. Netanyahu speaks a lot but will never initiate anything. all of his actions are reactive, which is why settlers and ultra orthodox coalition factions are so successful at milking the budget.
Every thinking Israeli (this excludes hardliner bibi-faction Likud supporters) knows this after 9 years of consecutive Bibi governments.

2- Netanyahu has no ideology and doesn’t care about any Israeli citizens (Jewish or otherwise), Iran or its nukes, American interests or any so called Israeli expansionist interests. The only thing that Netanyahu cares about is enriching himself and remaining in power. Iran has been his (and other Israeli politicians) main tool for selling fear for 25 years now. If he cared at all, he could have bombed those facilities a long time ago, when it was less risky.

3- Most importantly, Netanyahu is now under investigation in 4 cases of corruption and his wife is being charged in another case, her third if my count is correct. This has the effect weakening the public’s perception of him in the past year. This is why he wants an election this year while he still has no charges and has a chance to win. This is why he is talking about Iran and fostering a non symmetric armed solution to the Gazan protests.

To sum it up:
– Anything that comes out of his mouth should be treated as a lie with an internal political purpose, including any foreign matters.

– Any analysis like the above is useless. It does not consider his personality, his interests, and assumes he has a foreign relations agenda, strategy and is a capable real leader. he is neither. Treating him in this manner (taking him seriously, and answering him based on facts and logic) has never worked for Israelis that oppose him and it will not work for you. It only gives him dignity that he does not deserve and amplifies his fear-mongering techniques.

– There is nothing to worry about Israel initiating a full scale war against Iran while he’s in charge. A full scale missile war will Iran will involve many civilian casualties on Israel’s side and will risk his position greatly by making even his own camp start to weigh whether his “leadership” is worth it.

It is sad to see the ignorance in many of the comments attributing ideology, capabilities and interests to Netanyahu that he does’t have.
A nihilist incapable crook is all he is, and not all Israelis and Israeli politicians are like that. please don’t blame Israel if your government decides to go to war with Iran. It will be the US government’s own fault and it will not help you solve the problem.

Joe

May 3, 2018 at 9:11 am

Clint- you are correct, he is a LOT of bluster and lies, and that would be fine except for the power he and the israeli/jewish lobbies and interests wield in America. Indeed he is a dybbuk of the first order, but you simply cannot ignore or negate the man when you see him address Congress or AIPAC. It is disgusting. America is completely subjugated by the pro israel/jewish lobbies and big money interests. You touched on that in your last sentence. Netanyahu, and israel itself, would be minor players on the world field if not for the inextricable, parasite-host relationship with the United States. The abject perfidiousness of israel vis-a-vis America, and indeed of America to the rest of the world is frightening, alarming, and surely the source of much ire. The impotence Netanyahu lacks at home is more than made up for by his influence here. The entire Iran threat rubbish is so that israel maintains: 1. Victim/persecution status. 2. Regional hegemony, and the power to annex more land. 3. Related to #2- gaining sole ownership (stealing) of the Golan and it’s attendant mineral/resource rights. The interesting thing to bear in mind is that IF Iran is ever neutralized (won’t happen), who will israel blame then for it’s perpetual existential threat source?

Joe

May 3, 2018 at 7:59 am

The “tragedy of Netanyahu” would be just that, a tragic comedy, if it were not for the fealty of America toward israel. The ignorance of a large portion of the public, people who are indoctrinated, bamboozled, and brainwashed with ID politics and liberal/left ‘education’, as well as media controlled by the same, ensure that nothing will change, unfortunately. Whilst Americans are preoccupied with ‘race’ garbage, ‘identity/gender’ nonsense (sad day Wednesday as we were forced to say goodbye to the Boy Scouts after 108 years), sports, cheap beer and food, and overall debt consumerism, the foundation of the Republic is being gutted and destroyed, and is almost complete. Instead of being outraged about Syria (and the host of other conflicts) and Iran, or the overall lack of good, honest career choices, the NWO/jewish/zionist power bloc has you all fighting over Waffle House, Starbucks, and the right for men to use women’s bathrooms. Knowing the dumbed down populace, I suppose that it makes sense, because it is easier, in the climate of today, to jump on the ignorant bandwagon(s) of the times, where facts, reality, and the true severity of what is really happening require an objective, critical analysis, devoid of emotion, which, by the way, is what, unfortunately, drives the majority of opinion, rendering myopic any true understanding of the important issues that actually affect one’s future. All one needs to do is watch one AIPAC shindig to get a primer on what is happening. The participants are actually quite overt in their presentation, so there should be no mystery in extrapolating further. But they then use the obvious (one would think) yet insidious tactic of diversion, using the aforementioned identity characterizations, knowing that people’s emotional weaknesses will get in the way of critical thought, and, for many of the millennials and younger, the long standing ‘liberal’ educational slant becomes a death knell for analysis, as they are spending clear thought and energy on adding another letter to the identity/gender list (LGTQABCDEFG).

Robert Emmett

May 3, 2018 at 6:07 am

Appreciate the explication of the “agreement” but could there possibly be any double standards about “illegal military research” going on elsewhere among the signatories? Are chemical weapons, for instance, illegal and does/did the U.S. military use them, I wonders? As if that isn’t obvious on its face. Maybe there’s a tad of over-thinking this whole brouhaha. It was a show! Bibi doing his bibi-bubby-boo dance. And for what audience was he catapulting the propaganda, as Geo the Bushman once proposed, do you suppose? Still and all, bless Scott Ritter for his outspokenness.

Abe

May 2, 2018 at 9:53 pm

“When discussing Iran and any allegations regarding past programs dedicated to developing nuclear weapons, one cannot dismiss the fact that Israeli fingerprints were on a previous trove of documents – the so-called ‘laptop of death’ – that initiated the entire controversy about “alleged studies.”

“The timing of Netanyahu’s presentation – a mere two weeks before Trump is scheduled to make his determination about the fate of the JCPOA – is suspect, as is the methodology used to introduce the intelligence material to the world. If this trove of documents is, in fact, what Netanyahu claims, then there are mechanisms in place via the JCPOA framework to address the legitimate concerns raised by their collective content. The Israeli government could have shared this information with any of the signatory parties to the JCPOA, who then could have requested a meeting of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA where the issue of Iranian compliance would then be discussed. While the process involved is a cumbersome one, in the end any failure of the part of Iran to constructively engage would result in the matter being taken to the Security Council, where sanctions could be re-imposed.

“Likewise, the Israelis could have taken their information straight to the IAEA, which is empowered by the JCPOA to investigate ‘activities inconsistent with the JCPOA’ at ‘locations that have not been declared under the safeguards agreement or Additional Protocol.’ Netanyahu’s ramshackle building in the Shorabad District of southern Tehran would seem to fit that description perfectly, despite the seeming illogic of Iran hiding its most sensitive documents in such an insecure location. Again, any substantive Iranian noncompliance with the IAEA’s demands to investigate would eventually lead to the resumption of economic sanctions against Iran.

“The legal and practical fallacies inherent in Netanyahu’s presentation may ultimately not matter. In the end, Netanyahu was addressing an audience of one—Donald Trump. This ‘intelligence driven briefing,’ regardless of the veracity of the information used to underpin it, will be used by Trump to bolster a decision he has already made to withdraw from the JCPOA, setting America and the world on a path for which there can only be one destination—war with Iran. Once Trump withdraws from the JCPOA, there will be no turning back; Israel’s hyped up claims will never be subjected to the kind of scrutiny decisions of this magnitude would seem to demand. This was, and is, Netanyahu’s ultimate objective, which is itself a sad commentary on a president whose campaign was anchored in opposition to the flawed intelligence used to justify the Iraq War. Sadly, one can only observe, ,Mission Accomplished.'”

Thanks, CN, for the piece on latest threats to peace via Netanyahoo. And Jerry Alatolo, thanks for posting Cuomo’s questions to Netanyahu with Netanyahu’s evasive answers. Now, who would initiate an emergency session of the UN on threats to world peace? Has there been any such talk? I looked up how to contact the UN but found nothing helpful. If we can’t get through to the Washington warmongers, can we get through to the UN?

Netanyahu’s address seems obviously staged to coincide with Bolton’s recent accession to WH National Security Advisor (what a euphemism that is!), Syria’s attempts to start reconstruction despite outside political moves showing intent of partition, and Trump saying he’ll decide on JCPOA by May 12, no doubt with Bolton’s advice to withdraw. It’s clearly calculated to gin up for war extension focusing on Iran.

JC

May 2, 2018 at 9:00 pm

there should be an article The tragedy of the USA about how so many people loyal to a foregin nation have managed to get so much control in the USA..media money and the whole politics..no one none in the US congress ever say a word about the terrorist jewsih state why not?…the jew lobby continues its efforts to criminalise critsisim of the jewish state israel…the USA is as much the jewish state as israel is…they control the whole dam thing…Al jazzera supposedly has a killer investigaive on the jew lobby in the US that they cannot show because they have a gun to thier head…and we all know who by…..The tragedy of the United States…seling its soul to the worse devils in history…Read few days ago that Shakspere said that Hell was empty all the devils are right here

Mild -ly- Facetious

May 2, 2018 at 6:10 pm

Instead of enjoying his 20th year of Israeli dictatorship, Netanyahu aught to be living in his twentieth year prison term for his part in the assassination of then President Yidzak Rabin.

Rabin was the moderate that rabid zionists could not / would not tolerate.
For the full story Google THE ASSASSINATION OF RABIN IN 1996.

Bebe was involved — and now Israel has evolved into a Radical Terrorist State protected by Biblically IGNORANT and clueless Right Wing “evangelical christians” that worship They Know Not What or Who.

The PLIGHT of Palestinians under the Ruthless control of Zionist Israel is basically deplorable or banal, or plainly INHUMANE.

I write this with a furiously, compelling burden and heartfelt dismay by reason of the cruel suffering inflicted on the Palestinian People by the Apartheid Israeli government of Bebe Netanyahu.

ANY AND ALL WHO CLAIM TO “LOVE” JUSTICE & PEACE OUGHT TO BE OUTRAGEOUSLY APPALLED BY THE PUNISHING CONDITIONS FORCEFULLY ENDURED BY THE HUMAN BEINGS LIVING UNDER ISRAEL’S BRUTAL AUTHORITY.

Netanyahu is a political figurehead, just like Trump. Neither one of them make Big Picture decisions.

ToivoS

May 2, 2018 at 3:22 pm

It seems fairly clear that Bibi’s ‘proof’ is a big lie and that it has not convinced hardly anyone but with one significant exception: namely Trump (and most of the US msn). That was the goal likely and with Bolton whispering in Trump’s ear it seems depressingly likely that the nuclear treaty will be abrogated. Iran and its partners have time to see how they will respond. We can only hope now that they will respond wisely. Doesn’t it seem ironic that we now must put our hopes for our security on the actions nations our government is trying to define as enemies?

Al Pinto

May 2, 2018 at 3:02 pm

And that presentation about Iran comes from a country that did not sign the Treaty for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT. Couple of chosen words come to mind, like shut the @#$% up…

Unfortunately, the Orange Headed Monster will go along with Israel. He doesn’t have much of a choice, it’s the standard for the US foreign policy to protect Israel before any other interests, including the US interest. At this point, the Zionists are more dangerous to the world, than any other terrorist group.

jazza

May 2, 2018 at 2:50 pm

isn’t ‘bibi’ being chased by police for fraud and other criminal activity – can’t they find him – what’s happening with this foul, vile, criminal??

Skeptigal

May 2, 2018 at 2:22 pm

I read that the Israeli Knesset voted to transfer responsibility for war making decisions to Nutanyahu and his Defense Minister. More madness!

I contend that Netanyahu’s goal to undermine the Iranian Nuclear Deal is really about continuing to undermine Iran in general, in order to resume the push toward the longstanding regime change policy. Under the current Nuclear Deal, Iran can demonstrate compliance, experience sanctions relief, and appear to be a cooperative and reasonable state in the region relative to this issue. Without the deal, it is easier to portray Iran as a threatening rogue state bent on the development of nuclear first strike weapons that must be brought under control with sanctions and ultimately the need for regime change – whether they actually produce nuclear weapons or not. In essence, the Iranian Nuclear Deal is an impediment to the original plan to continually demonize Iran, and to bomb, bomb, bomb them, destroy their current government, and disrupt their ability to act as a bulwark against Israeli, Saudi and U.S. desires for hegemony in the region. This is the same policy that has been in effect for Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, and Somalia (at least). With this as the policy, they will never see the benefit of any kind of diplomacy with Iran.

Meanwhile, I think it’s long overdue for the IAEA to start snooping around Israel to find out more about their nuclear weapons capability. I don’t see why they are exempt from the same scrutiny as Iran in this regard, other than the UN protections they receive from Neoconized Washington.

Skip Scott

May 2, 2018 at 2:09 pm

KHawk-

I couldn’t agree more. I dream of an MSM interview with Bibi that questions him on Israel’s nukes and how they got them. While they’re at it they could bring up the USS Liberty.

Surprisingly, in a very rare instance, CNN’s Chris Cuomo pushed fairly hard against Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after his “dog-and-pony show”.

Cuomo asked, “Disclosure, as an issue, should work every way. The United States should say what it has … you know where I’m going with this. A yes-no question for you … Does Israel have nuclear capabilities and nuclear weapons? Yes or no?”

Netanyahu responded, “We’ve always said that we won’t be the first to introduce it, so we haven’t introduced it.”

At that point Cuomo and Netanyahu spoke simultaneously, with Cuomo saying, “But that’s not an answer to the question. Do you have them or do you not?”, and Netanyahu, “And I’ll tell you one thing, we’ve never called for the annihilation of any country.”

Netanyahu then said, “It’s as good an answer that you’re gonna get.” At that point, Netahyahu focused on “commitments” of Iran after signing agreements regarding nuclear arms. The interview failed to mention that Israel hasn’t signed any nuclear weapons agreements, thus Israel has zero commitments.

Cuomo also asked, “If disclosure matters so much, what message does it send when you won’t confirm something that is widely believed by the entire international community? How does that inspire the spirit of disclosure?”

Netanyahu stuck to Iran’s “commitments” … and Cuomo said, “I understand, but you know what their take on it is … That you won’t even confirm that you have nuclear weapons when the world already believes that you do. Why? Why keep that quiet?”

Netanyahu responded, “Well, you can make all your assumptions. One thing is clear, Israel is not threatening the annihilation of any country …” Netanyahu said more as relates to Trump’s reasons for pulling the plug on the JCPOA as the interview wound down. Cuomo noted at the end, “My point was just that, if what we want is for people to come clean about things, everybody should be open and honest, and it will create a different kind of pressure on what kind of dialogue is expected.”

***

Convening an emergency, immediate peace conference event at the United Nations General Assembly is in order. Allow each United Nations member state 10-20 minutes to address the General Assembly and the world on the dangerous developments in the Middle East and possible solutions for peace. Such an event might take up to 7 days to complete, offers the necessary, wise, worldly dialogue commensurate to the extreme dangers humanity now faces, and would bring forward the truth(s) required upon which to base the best decisions.

Peace.

Skip Scott

May 2, 2018 at 3:41 pm

Hi Jerry-

This may end up posting twice. I am surprised that Cuomo went there with Bibi, and I bet he had a “trip to the woodshed” afterward. On an unrelated topic, Cuomo is all on board with trashing Jill Stein.

Netanyahu says, “One thing is clear, Israel is not threatening the annihilation of any country …”

That is, of course, with the exception of Palestine.

But it should also be noted that no other country has threatened Israel with nuclear annihilation. For certain neighbor states to have stated that Israel should not exist on Palestinian territory is constantly twisted by the Israelis to infer annihilation. And in the case of Iran, is conflated to mean nuclear annihilation. It is important for Israel to continually repeat that to generate sympathy, support and justification for aggression.

Skip Scott

May 3, 2018 at 7:26 am

I have never quite understood the rationale for our support of the state of Israel as a “jewish state” given our own foundational beliefs in the separation of church and state. Israel is every bit as much of an apartheid regime as South Africa ever was, and they continue to get away with it.

He also asked very pointedly if Israel was planning to make war on Iran since that was the way to ensure a country never develops nuclear capability. Bibi did a standard deflection saying Iran is the aggressor.

Cuomo must still want to keep his job though (or maybe he’s just so unused to flexing his journalistic muscles) because he never followed up to ask the obvious question. If Israel is a nuclear power continuing to use such threatening rhetoric, then wouldn’t it give Iran no choice but to pursue nuclear weapons as well for its own defense?

By the end Cuomo had backed off to a more familiar soothingly obsequious tone. An audible sigh escaped from Netanyahu’s lips before he signed off.

Deniz

May 3, 2018 at 10:08 am

That was the first time I have ever seen Cuomo do his job. Perhaps this is an indication that there has been a power shift away from Netanyahoo and the ripples in the pond from alternative media is having an impact.

Robert

May 2, 2018 at 2:22 pm

I believe that Israel is notably not a member of the IAEA. Hence it is not subject to its inspections. Talk about a double standard.

Al Pinto

May 2, 2018 at 2:54 pm

@Robert…

That believe is incorrect…

Israel has became a member of IAEA as of July 12, 1957.

On the other hand, Israel is one of the three non-signatory countries that did not signed on to the Treaty for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT. The other two countries are India and Pakistan.

As such, Israel has an estimated 100-200 nuclear warheads and that’s acceptable for this “exceptional” country. Especially, when the other “exceptional” country, namely the US of A, says so. At least the Secretary of the State believes so:

hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxndIsku2W8

j. D. D.

May 2, 2018 at 2:56 pm

That is true. While Israel secretly acquired and developed scores of deliverable nuclear weapons, and still lies about them,, it has not a single energy producing nuclear power plant.

Al Pinto

May 2, 2018 at 3:13 pm

Also true, but…

Israel does operate two nuclear research reactors, but not actual power plants. One reason is that it is hard to actually build nuclear power plant, without signing the NPT, due to the difficulties with international suppliers. The other is Israel’s large deposits of natural gas that makes it cheaper to generate electricity vs. nuclear power plant. Some of the large deposits are in the annexed Palestinian territories.

Yes, Israel extends its border that makes the country larger at the expense of the Palestinians. But the primary goal may just be gaining ownership of even larger deposits of natural gas…

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